(Kelleway: An ambassador for Racing For Change)

"Come Racing, Have fun, that's what racing is all about!"


Today's opening race at York's Dante meeting was won by Primo Lady returning at an uneasy 7/1 after drifting from 9/2 in the markets before the off. Trainer Gay Kelleway was ecstatic after the win "We're all going for a few drink now" she said after being mobbed by the syndicate of male owners. Purchased for a mere £5,000 Primo Lady is the pinnacle of what participant race going is all about. Kelleway said "Come racing, buy a cheap horse, have fun, that's what racing is all about!". Clearly Gay is an ambassador for the sport with her comments aimed towards potential racing enthusiasts. After Primo Lady's victory she could not have been more helpful in pushing the sport. This is what is needed from everyone.


Talking on Wednesday with Paul Hanagan he said all the jockeys are pleased with the initiatives put in place by Racing For Change. They all want to help and so do the backroom staff. It is a shame that it is taking so long to attract these new crowds. Maybe it is the lack of advertising, today before the channel four racing programme started it was introduced by the same person who introduces Big Brother, this is who racing needs to attract the younger crowds. But it needs to be advertised during Hollyoaks on a Sunday morning, or during the Simpson's, but of course this means paying the fee's of prime time advertising.

York published an interview in Wednesday's racecard where it was suggested he was not as much of a celebrity as Frankie Dettori or Keiron Fallon, but by leading the jockey's championship at moment he soon could be. It may be useful for racing to look towards the jockeys in a bid to push the sport, there could be more brief interviews before and after racing, a look into the weighing room, the exitement in the parade ring before a race and a clear tussle for the title of champion jockey advertised all season.


t is well known that human interest stories attract more interest, people are curious about competition, like the race for the premiership last weekend, or the drivers championship in Formula One and last week even the race to Number 10 Downing Street.